Refurbishing and resale techniques for data storage tape

ABSTRACT

Techniques are described for reselling and/or refurbishing data tape media. The techniques may involve determining life information associated with a data tape medium and reselling the data tape medium when a remaining life of the data tape medium is larger than a pre-defined threshold. In this manner, the quality of resold magnetic tape can be improved, and the media can possibly marketed or warranted to the buyer based on the remaining life. In addition, refurbishing techniques are described that include degaussing of servo written data tape media, followed by the creation of new servo patterns on the degaussed media.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to data storage tape, such as magnetic tape and,more particularly, techniques that can improve the refurbishing andresale of magnetic tape cartridges.

BACKGROUND

Magnetic tape remains economical for storing large amounts of data. Forexample, magnetic tape cartridges, or large spools of magnetic tape, areoften used to back up data in large computing centers. Magnetic tapecartridges also find application in the backup of data stored on smallercomputers such as desktop or notebook computers.

In magnetic tape, data is typically stored as magnetic signals that aremagnetically recorded on the tape surface. The data is typicallyorganized along “data tracks,” and transducer heads are positionedrelative to the data tracks to write data to the tracks or read datafrom the tracks. Magnetic tape typically includes several data tracks ina data band. Other tape media, such as optical tape, holographic tape,and other tape media formats can also make use of data tracks. Tapemedia has the advantage of a very large surface area relative todisk-shaped media.

Servo patterns refer to signals or other recorded marks on the mediumthat are used for tracking purposes. In other words, servo patterns arerecorded on the medium to provide reference points relative to datatracks. A servo controller interprets detected servo patterns andgenerates position error signals. The position error signals are used toadjust the lateral distance of the transducer head relative to the datatracks so that the transducer head is properly positioned along the datatracks for effective reading and/or writing of the data to the datatracks.

In a magnetic tape medium, servo patterns are often stored inspecialized tracks on the medium, called “servo tracks.” Servo tracksserve as references for the servo controller. Servo tracks typicallyhold no data except for information that is useful to the servocontroller to identify positioning of a transducer head relative to thesurface of the medium. A plurality of servo tracks may be defined in aservo band. Some magnetic tape media include a plurality of servo bands,with data tracks being located between the servo bands.

Servo patterns are referred to as pre-recorded when they are recordedduring the fabrication of the media. In other words, pre-recorded servopatterns are servo patterns recorded in the media prior to the mediabeing used for storage of data. These pre-recorded servo patterns allowthe media to achieve higher storage densities because the servo patternsenable positions on the media to be located with greater precision.Therefore, servo patterns allow for smaller amounts of media surface tobe used to store units of data.

One example of pre-recorded servo patterns are amplitude-based servopatterns. For amplitude-based servo patterns, the detection of the servosignal amplitude enables identification of head positioning relative tothe servo track. Another example of pre-recorded servo patterns aretime-based servo patterns. For time-based servo patterns, the timing ofthe detection of successive servo marks enables identification of headpositioning relative to the servo track. Other types of servo patternsalso exist. Moreover, in some cases, servo patterns may be interspersedwithin data tracks.

Recently, a market for refurbished magnetic tape has emerged.Specifically, resellers may purchase or obtain used magnetic tapecartridges, repackage the tape cartridges, and sell the tape cartridgesas refurbished media, typically at a discounted price relative to newtape cartridges. For magnetic tape that does not include servo patterns,the tape is typically degaussed in order to erase data content from thetape. For magnetic tape that includes servo patterns, however,degaussing is typically avoided. In this case, resellers typically use adrive to overwrite the data tracks in an effort to erase any datacontent prior to resale. Many companies claim that the used data storagecartridges are “recertified” in order to promote brand qualityassociated with the resale of such media.

SUMMARY

In general, the invention is directed to techniques for reselling and/orrefurbishing data tape media. The techniques may involve determininglife information associated with a data tape medium and reselling thedata tape medium only when a remaining life of the data tape medium islarger than a pre-defined threshold. In other words, resale of data tapemedia having a remaining life that is less than the pre-definedthreshold can be specifically avoided. In this manner, the quality ofresold magnetic tape can be improved, and the media can possibly bemarketed or warranted to the buyer based on the remaining life.

In some cases, the magnetic tape media is also refurbished. Inparticular, this disclosure also contemplates specific types ofrefurbishing techniques that can improve the quality of resold media,and limit the ability to retrieve data that may have been previouslyrecorded on the data storage tape. The techniques may include degaussingmagnetic tape that was formerly recorded with servo patterns to removeall data and the servo patterns. The techniques may further includewriting new servo patterns on the degaussed magnetic tape using in-driveservo recording techniques.

The invention may also exploit tape monitoring and recording techniquescommonly used in the field of magnetic tape in order to determine lifeinformation associated with such magnetic tape. For example, magnetictape often includes a header file and/or a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tag that is periodically updated by tape drives tomaintain life information. In these cases, the life information maycomprise a counter file that is maintained on the tape (or in an RFIDtag within a tape cartridge). The counter file defines how much use thetape has been subjected to, and may have meaning relative to a usefullife product specification. The techniques described herein may exploitthis life information that is maintained in a header file or RFID tagassociated with the magnetic tape, and allow for resale or refurbishingonly when the remaining useful life exceeds a predefined threshold.Resold tape media may also be priced based on how much useful liferemains, or warranted based on the life information.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprisingdetermining life information associated with a data tape medium, andreselling the data tape medium when the life information indicates thatthe data tape medium has a remaining life that is larger than apre-defined threshold.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of refurbishing adata tape cartridge that comprises a data tape medium including a servopattern and data that has been recorded on the data tape medium. Themethod comprises degaussing the data tape medium, and recording a servopattern on the degaussed data tape medium.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method comprisingdetermining life information associated with a data tape medium in adata tape cartage, and refurbishing the data tape medium when aremaining life of the data tape medium is larger than a pre-definedthreshold. The method may further comprise reselling the data tapecartridge that includes the refurbished data tape medium.

The techniques described herein may provide a number of advantages. Forexample, by exploiting life information, e.g., that is either stored inthe header of magnetic tape or in another place, such as an RFID tag,the resale of poor quality media can be avoided. In this manner, thequality of resold magnetic tape can be improved, and possibly warrantedto the buyer. The purchase price may also reflect the remaining usefullife of the magnetic tape, and marketing techniques based on theremaining useful life determined by the life information can assurebuyers of the quality of the resold media.

Furthermore, the refurbishing techniques described herein may furtherimprove the quality of refurbished media, and limit the ability toretrieve data that may have been previously recorded on the data tapemedium. This may be particularly important if the resold mediapreviously included sensitive information. By degaussing magnetic tapethat was formerly recorded with servo patterns, data removal can beimproved for such media relative to conventional overwrite techniquesthat apply only to the data tracks. The techniques used herein canprovide for the re-writing of new servo patterns on the degaussedmagnetic tape, e.g., using in-drive servo recording.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a depiction of a magnetic tape that can be refurbished and/orresold according to the techniques described herein.

FIG. 2 is another depiction of a magnetic tape that can be refurbishedand/or resold according to the techniques described herein.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective depiction of a magnetic tape cartridgethat can be refurbished and/or resold according to the techniquesdescribed herein.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a technique for determiningwhether or not to refurbish magnetic tape according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a technique for determiningwhether or not to refurbish magnetic tape according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a technique for refurbishingmagnetic tape according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system thatmay implement one or more aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a data tape medium 10 that can berefurbished and/or resold according to the techniques described herein.Data tape medium 10 comprises a linear medium, such as magnetic tape.Data tape medium 10 typically comprises a substrate with one or morelayers of magnetic particles dispersed or coated on one or both sides ofmedium. Data tape medium 10 may be housed in a tape cartridge, althoughsome embodiments are not necessarily limited in this respect.

Conventional magnetic tape refurbishing techniques are generallydifferent depending on whether the magnetic tape includes servo patternsor not. For magnetic tape that does not include servo patterns,conventional refurbishing typically degausses the tape in order to eraseall data content from the tape. For magnetic tape that includes servopatterns, however, degaussing is avoided. In this case, resellerstypically use a drive to overwrite the data tracks in effort to eraseany data content prior to resale. Unfortunately, overwriting of datatracks does not necessarily remove the old data, and the old data maystill be recoverable following an overwrite. This is highly undesirablefor refurbished media.

In one aspect of the invention, refurbishing techniques include thedegaussing of data tape medium 10 that includes one or more servo tracks14A and 14B (collectively servo tracks 14) and one or more data tracks16. This can better ensure that the old data is erased from data tapemedium 10 and can reduce the likelihood that old data can be recoveredfrom the refurbished media. However, this also requires servo patternsto be re-written on the refurbished media since degaussing removes theservo patterns.

For such refurbishing that includes the re-write of servo patterns, theinvention contemplates “in-drive” servo writing. In-drive servo writingcomprises a process in which a data cartridge (not shown in FIG. 1) isinserted into a tape drive. The servo patterns are then written by thetape drive in a manner similar to conventional data recording. The headswithin the drive, in this case, are designed for such in-drive servowriting. The head design for such servo writing would vary depending onwhat type of servo pattern is being written. For example, heads for thecreation of time-based servo marks or heads for the creation ofamplitude-based servo windows could be used.

In-drive servo writing is different from conventional servo writing usedin the initial creation of the data tape medium. In particular, theservo writing during the initial creation of the data tape mediumtypically occurs with respect to a large roll of magnetic tape (commonlyreferred to as a tape pancake), such that the servo patterns exist onthe medium prior to the medium being loaded into a cartridge. Incontrast, in-drive servo writing occurs with respect to tape that islocated in a cartridge when the cartridge is loaded into a drive.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the resale of data tapemedia. The resale techniques described herein may be particularly usefulwith the refurbishing techniques described herein, but may also be usedwith respect to non-refurbished media. The resale techniques may involvedetermining life information associated with a data tape medium andreselling the data tape medium only when a remaining life of the datatape medium is larger than a pre-defined threshold. In other words,resale of data tape media having a remaining life that is less than thepre-defined threshold can be specifically avoided. In this manner, thequality of resold magnetic tape cartridges can be improved, and the datatape cartridges may possibly be warranted to the buyer based on theremaining life. Marketing can also be based on the remaining life.

The resale techniques can exploit the fact that many types of magnetictape media include life information with the medium. Thus, the lifeinformation can be read and the compared to a product specification thatspecifies the life of the data tape medium. Only those media that havesubstantial life remaining, as defined by the life information relativeto the product specification for that product may be resold (orrefurbished and resold).

For example, magnetic tape often includes a header file and/or a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag that is periodically updated by atape drive to maintain life information. In these cases, the lifeinformation may comprise a counter file that is maintained on the tape(or in an RFID tag). The counter file defines how much use the tape hasbeen subjected to, and may have meaning relative to a useful lifeproduct specification. The techniques described herein may exploit thislife information that is maintained in a header file or RFID tagassociated with the magnetic tape, and allow for resale or refurbishingonly when the remaining useful life is substantial.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a data tape medium 20 that can beresold according to the techniques described herein. Data tape medium 20comprises a linear medium, such as magnetic tape. Data tape medium 20typically comprises a substrate with one or more layers of magneticparticles dispersed or coated on one or both sides of medium. Data tapemedium 20 may be housed in a tape cartridge, although some embodimentsof the invention are not necessarily limited in this respect.

As shown in FIG. 2, data tape medium 20 includes a header file 24 andvarious data files (DATA) 26. Header file 24 and DATA 26 are bothmagnetically recorded information on the surface of data tape medium 20.Header file 24 maintains life information, e.g., a counter that isincremented every time operations are performed on data tape medium 20.Header file 24 may be a located at the beginning of a length of datastorage tape, but more generally refers to any file than includes thelife information associated with data storage tape 20 as outlinedherein. In this sense, header file 20 may also be referred to as, moregenerally, a life information file that can be located anywhere on thesurface of the magnetic tape.

Data tape medium 20 may include a product specification that defines a“shelf life” of medium 20. By comparing this shelf life in the productspecification with header file 24, a remaining useful life of data tapemedium 20 can be determined. As one example, the shelf life of medium 20may be limited to 10,000 read/write passes of data tape medium, or 200full file write operations. In these examples, header file 24 canmaintain an ongoing count of the number of read/write passes and fullfile write operations that have been performed. The number of read/writepasses or full file write operations are examples of types of valuesreferred to herein as manufacturer specified durability values. Othermanufacturer specified durability values, however, could alternativelybe used to facilitate the useful life determinations.

In accordance with the invention, a threshold can be defined relative toone or more aspects of the product specification. For example, thethreshold may be defined as an absolute number of read/write passes orfull file write operations, or possibly as percentages of the shelf lifedefined in the product specification. For example, the threshold may beapproximately 50 percent of an original manufacture specified durabilityvalue. However, any other percentage or absolute numbers may be used todefine the threshold for other implementations. In general, thethreshold defines how much remaining life is acceptable to allow thedata storage tape to be resold and/or refurbished. If data tape medium20 has a remaining life that is less than the threshold, it may bediscarded and not resold or refurbished. In other words, data tapemedium 20 may be resold only when the remaining life of data tape medium20 is larger than the pre-defined threshold. In this manner, the qualityof resold magnetic tape can be improved, and possibly warranted to thebuyer.

The purchase price may also reflect the remaining useful life of thedata storage tape, and marketing techniques based on the remaininguseful life determined by the life information stored in header file 24can be used to assure buyers of the quality of the resold data storagetape. For example, reselling a data tape cartridge that includes medium20 may include marketing the data tape cartridge as defining a remaininguseful life greater than the pre-defined threshold. Furthermore,reselling a data tape cartridge may include warranting the cartridge foran amount of time substantially equal to the pre-defined threshold.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective depiction of a magnetic tape cartridge30 that can be resold (or refurbished and resold) according to thetechniques described herein. As shown, magnetic tape cartridge 30includes a housing 28A and 28B (collectively housing 28) that houses areel of magnetic tape 32. Magnetic tape 32 may include a leader 35 toallow a drive mechanism to pull magnetic tape 32 through the drive,although the invention is not limited to any tape cartridgeconfiguration. In other configurations, for example, a magnetic tapecartridge may include two separate reels with the tape being accessiblethrough the housing as it travels from reel to reel.

An initial portion 34 of magnetic tape 32 may include a header file,similar to that outlined above with respect to FIG. 2. In particular,initial portion 34 of magnetic tape 32 may include a file that maintainsthe life information that facilitates the ability to assess whether ornot to resell or refurbish magnetic tape cartridge 30, as outlinedherein.

Additionally or alternatively, magnetic tape cartridge 30 may include astorage element 38, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tagthat stores the life information. Again, the life information may bestored in a counter file that is incremented by a drive-in order tomaintain a count of the amount of use of magnetic tape cartridge 30.Examples of life information include the number of read/write passesperformed on magnetic tape 32 or the number of full file writeoperations performed on magnetic tape 32. However, other types of lifeinformation that records the past use of magnetic tape 32 could be usedaccording to the techniques described herein. The techniques set athreshold that establishes how much useful life is acceptable for a datatape medium in a resale environment, and then disallow the resale orrefurbishing of magnetic tape cartridge 30 when the remaining life ofmagnetic tape 32 is below the threshold.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a technique for determiningwhether or not to resell magnetic tape according to an embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 4 will be explained with reference to media 20 and 30 ofFIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 4, a threshold is established (41).Again, the threshold defines how much useful life is acceptable for datatape medium 20 or data tape cartridge 30 in a resale environment. Lifeinformation is then read from data tape medium 20 or data tape cartridge30 (42). For example, the life information may be maintained in a fileon data tape medium 20 or in a storage element 38 of data tape cartridge30. The stored life information is then compared to the threshold (43).

If the remaining product life of data tape medium 20 or data tapecartridge 30 is greater than the threshold (yes branch of 44), data tapemedium 20 or data tape cartridge 30 is resold. However, if the remainingproduct life of data tape medium 20 or data tape cartridge 30 is notgreater than the threshold (no branch of 44), the product is not resold.In this manner, the threshold allows for a quality check based onremaining product life according to the product specification. In somecases, the pricing of the resold media may be linearly related to theremaining life of the media, as defined by the life information that isidentified from the media.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a technique for determiningwhether or not to refurbish magnetic tape according to an embodiment ofthe invention. FIG. 5 is very similar to FIG. 4, but further concernsthe decision whether to refurbish the magnetic tape. As shown in FIG. 5,a threshold is established (51), which defines how much useful life isacceptable for data tape medium 20 or data tape cartridge 30 in a resaleenvironment. Life information is then read from data tape medium 20 ordata tape cartridge 30 (52), and compared to the threshold (53). If theremaining product life of data tape medium 20 or data tape cartridge 30is greater than the threshold (yes branch of 56), data tape medium 20 ormagnetic tape 32 is refurbished (55) and resold (56). If not,refurbishing and resale are avoided for the product, and the product maybe discarded.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a technique for refurbishingmagnetic tape according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 willbe described in the context of data tape medium 10 of FIG. 1. In thisexample, it should be assumed that data tape medium 10 is housed withina tape cartridge (not shown in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 1, data tapemedium 10 comprises a servo written medium insofar as it includes one ormore servo patterns. In particular, data tape medium 10 includes servotracks 14 that include magnetically written servo patterns that werepre-formed on data storage medium 10 prior to placement of medium 10within the cartridge. The servo marks within servo tracks 14 may have avariety of formats and may include amplitude-based marks, time-basedmarks, or both.

In order to refurbish data tape medium 10, degaussing is performed (61).This is different than conventional refurbishing of servo written mediainsofar as conventional techniques simply perform an overwrite of datatracks 16 but not servo tracks 14. Degaussing is advantageous as itimproves data removal relative to an overwrite, but complicates theprocess insofar as degaussing data tape medium 10 erases the servo markswithin servo tracks 14.

After degaussing is performed, a new servo pattern is written into servotracks 14 using a tape drive (62). In this case, data storage tape 10 isnot removed from its cartridge. Rather the cartridge is inserted into adrive that includes heads designed for servo writing. The newly writtenservo marks can then be measured and verified (63) in order to test thequality of data storage tape 10, which is a refurbished product at thispoint.

In some cases, one or more aspects of the invention may be computerimplemented. FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary computer system that may beused to determine the life information associated with a data tapemedium, and thereby facilitate the decision whether to refurbish and/orresell the data tape medium as described herein. As shown, data tapecartridge 70 (which includes a data tape medium) is inserted into a tapedrive 74 of tape cartridge life determination system 72. Tape drive 74reads a tape header of the data tape medium in cartridge 70 in order toidentify how much of the life of cartridge 70 has been used.Alternatively or additionally, RFID reader 76 reads an RFID tag in datatape cartridge 70 in order to identify how much of the life of cartridge70 has been used.

Life determination unit 78 determines the life information associatedwith cartridge 70, for example, by subtracting the amount of life thathas been used from an original manufacture-specified durability value.Life determination unit 78 may maintain a table of durability valuesassociated with different types of cartridges and may select theappropriate entry from the table based on the type associated withcartridge 70. Life determination unit 78 can then compare the lifeinformation with a pre-defined threshold in order to determine whetherrefurbishing or resale are appropriate for data tape cartridge 70.

Input device 80 can allow a user to program the pre-defined threshold,or to change the threshold if desired. Input device 80 may comprise akeyboard, mouse, trackball, or any other device that allows a thresholdto be input to system 72. Output device 82 outputs the decision of lifedetermination unit 78 to the user. For example, life determination unit78 may comprise a display that notifies the user whether data tapecartridge 70 has sufficient remaining life to warrant refurbishmentand/or resale. Output device 82 may output the specific amount ofremaining life associated with data tape cartridge 70 or may simplyoutput a determination whether the life information associated with datatape cartridge 70 exceeds the predefined threshold.

If desired, the refurbishing techniques may also be automated intosystem 72. In this case, a degausser (not shown) and an in-drive servowriter (not shown) may be invoked at the direction of life determinationunit 78 in order to degauss data tape cartridge 70 and re-write servopatterns. Also, automation techniques may be used to sort tapecartridges into bins. For example, if data tape cartridge 70 isidentified as having sufficient life that warrants refurbishing orresale, an automation unit may sort data tape cartridge 70 into a firstbin. If, however, data tape cartridge 70 is identified as not havingsufficient life for refurbishing or resale, the automation unit may sortdata tape cartridge 70 into a second bin. The first bin may storecartridges for refurbishing or resale, whereas the second bin may storecartridges to be discarded. In this case, life determination unit 78 cancontrol the automation unit to cause different cartridges to be storedin the different bins.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Forexample, refurbishing and resale techniques have been described.Nevertheless, various modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, these and other embodiments arewithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A method comprising: determining life information associated with adata tape medium; and reselling the data tape medium when the lifeinformation indicates that the data tape medium has a remaining lifethat is larger than a pre-defined threshold.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein determining the life information comprises reading a header filethat includes the life information using a tape drive.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein determining the life information comprises reading aradio frequency identification (RFID) tag within a data tape cartridgeof the data tape medium, wherein the RFID tag includes the lifeinformation.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein reselling the data tapemedium includes marketing the data tape medium as defining a remaininguseful life greater than the pre-defined threshold.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising reselling the data tape medium with awarranty that extends greater than or equal to the pre-definedthreshold.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining thepre-defined threshold.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-definedthreshold is approximately 50 percent of an original manufacturespecified durability value.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprisingrefurbishing the data tape medium when the remaining life of the datatape medium is larger than the pre-defined threshold.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein refurbishing the data tape medium comprises: degaussingthe data tape medium; recording a servo pattern on the degaussed datatape medium; and verifying the servo pattern, wherein recording theservo pattern on the degaussed data tape medium comprises recording theservo pattern using an in-drive servo recording technique in which amagnetic tape cartridge that includes the data tape medium is insertedinto a drive that performs the in-drive servo recording technique.
 10. Amethod comprising: determining life information associated with a datatape medium in a data tape cartridge; refurbishing the data tape mediumwhen a remaining life of the data tape medium is larger than apre-defined threshold; and reselling the data tape cartridge thatincludes the refurbished data tape medium.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein refurbishing includes degaussing the data tape medium, recordinga servo pattern on the degaussed data tape medium, and verifying theservo pattern.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the lifeinformation comprises one of reading a header file that includes thelife information and reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) tagwithin the data tape cartridge that includes the life information. 13.The method of claim 10, wherein reselling the data tape cartridgeincludes marketing the data tape cartridge as defining a remaininguseful life greater than the pre-defined threshold.
 14. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising reselling the data tape cartridge with awarranty that extends an amount of time substantially equal to thepre-defined threshold.